The life and death of the author, taken from his letters sent to his parents and girlfriend covering his life abroad on various ships and while at the university. It also includes his poems. He served aboard the HMS Glamorgan, which was hit by an Exocet missile. He didn't think much of the war.
Here's what May Sarton, noted journal writer, said of the book:
"a very moving book... to watch his growth as a human being from the first excitement and exhilaration at the thought of seeing action to the bitter realization of how ill prepared the British fleet was to defend itself against the Argentine missiles."
In the end, he felt it was an "unjustified war, fought and temporarily won at too high a price." Sarton says of Tinker, he had the most admirable British traits, "the saving sense of humor, an ability to be detached and think through even at highly emotional moments, the capacity to feel deeply without becoming sentimental, and a beautiful serenity under great tension."